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Kennedy reprimanded Bill and Hillary Clinton and criticized the campaign they have been running.

“When so many others were silent or simply went along, from the beginning, he opposed the war in Iraq,” Kennedy said of Obama.

Kennedy then thundered: “And let no one deny that truth!”

No one like Bill Clinton, who recently dismissed Obama’s opposition to the war as “the biggest fairy tale I’ve ever seen.”

And Kennedy was almost certainly talking about the Clintons when he said: “With Barack Obama, we will turn the page on the old politics of misrepresentation and distortion.”

He added: “He is a fighter who cares passionately about the causes he believes in, without demonizing those who hold a different view.”

And just to rub things in a little, Kennedy went so far as to appropriate Hillary Clinton’s signature line and apply it to Obama.

“I know that he’s ready to be president on ... day ... one!” Kennedy said.

A source close to Kennedy told me that, more than a year ago, Obama had gone to Kennedy and asked if he should run for president.

“Yes,” Kennedy told him. “You don’t get more than one chance at the brass ring, and this is your chance.”

Kennedy was only 47, only a year older than Obama is now, when he announced for the presidency in November 1979.

But when Kennedy lost to Jimmy Carter, he never got another chance.

Kennedy also told Obama he expected to stay out of the Democratic primaries and not endorse.

He had too many friends running, Kennedy said, including Hillary Clinton and Chris Dodd.

But after Iowa, Kennedy began to reconsider — and not just because Obama won there.

“He saw that Obama was bringing all branches of the party together,” the source close to Kennedy said.

“Sen. Kennedy saw something on the faces of the people at the rallies that he had not seen in generations. Kennedy began to see Obama as a transformational figure.”

He was not the first Kennedy to do so.

Back in 2005, Obama spoke at the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award Ceremony, and afterward, Robert Kennedy’s widow, Ethel, publicly called Obama “our next president” and said, “I think he feels it. He feels it just like Bobby did.”

On Sunday, Caroline Kennedy wrote an op-ed article for The New York Times with the magical headline, “A President Like My Father.”

“Sen. Obama is running a dignified and honest campaign,” Kennedy wrote, again inviting comparison to the campaign of the Clintons.

“I have never had a president who inspired me the way people tell me that my father inspired them. But for the first time, I believe I have found the man who could be that president — not just for me but for a new generation of Americans.”

The generational theme is one that Ted Kennedy also hit hard during his endorsement speech at American University on Monday afternoon.

He used the word “young” eight times.

To win the nomination, Obama must put together a coalition of the young, minorities and the most progressive voters in the party.

And Kennedy will soon travel to New Mexico, Arizona and California to rally that support.

He has had some experience at this.

In 2004, Kennedy endorsed John Kerry and stumped across Iowa, tieless and coatless, laughing and joking, exuding wit and charm.

“I don’t think about the presidency any more,” Kennedy would tell the crowds. “Of course, I don’t think about it any less.”

Hillary Clinton may go on to win the Democratic nomination.

But if she does not, she will, to a certain extent, become Ted Kennedy: a person for whom the presidency is perpetually out of reach.

We are truly at a transcendent moment. Obama will be a leader for all of us. He is running, it is clear, not for himself but for a greater good. That is the essence of a true leader, in the mold of Bobby Kennedy. If Billary succeed in their ever ending quest for power, the country and the world will be worse for it. I am a lifelong Democrat, and have never been more disgusted by a fellow Dem in my life as I am by Bill and Hillary. I voted for Clinton twice . . . with pleasure and enthusiasm. The thought of them back in the White House after what we have been exposed to in the last month is revolting. I can't believe I just wrote that, but I did. It is how I feel. It is how many like minds around me feel. I think the Clintons are in for a long night on February 2.

Yes, Obama is the new King Arthur and he's got some shiny new Unicorns to sell you. If he did somehow get the nomination and did somehow win the election it would be interesting to see how long before the bloom went off that rose.

I am tired of everyone annointing Obama. His record is nothing special and voting present over 100 times is just sad. When Hillary or Bill point out Obama's lack of substance they get nailed for race baiting. Obama is a fine speaker and some day he may do enough to be considered for president but to critize him is not racist.

This is just a tip of the iceberg.Expect mass exodus of Democratic elite away from the Clintons towards Obama. First, no candidate facing a re-election would venture to endorse a divise candidate like Hillary. I for one, would not. Secondly no knowledgeable american would like to associate himself with racial politics that Bubba is bringing to the table. Third, no person in his normal senses would take sides with statements like those made by Bill Clinton and their surrogates. Get it right. Hillary is superb candidate but as long as she thinks Obama is standing on her way without making a strong arguments instead of race it will not work. Racism is associated with illitracy and dumbness.I dont think anyone even the dumb would like to be so called. My advice to Hillary is to get rid of Bill completely.Stop baiting on race bc Obama has shown extraordinary ability to trascend race. People who voted for Trent Lott now supporter Obama.This is the 21st century but Bill lives in the 19th Century.Cant Hillary get it? Tell americans what you can do.Ignore Obama.The more u talk Obama the more people see you as deperate. Talk issues and not tissues!

I thought this Presidential race was about the issues that we face and not personal ego and vindictiveness between senior party members. Ted Kennedy endorsement of barack obama while trashing Hillary Clinton base on dishonest and praetorian tv pundits who have a vested interest in seeing Hillary defeated and obama nominated is very opprobrium.

The main dishonest critics of Hillary are chris matthews whos brother is a republican joe scarborough who was a former GOP congressman and Mika Brzezinski of morning joe whos father is a paid advisor and supporter of obama. All the top leaders in the Democratic party like leahy, clayburn, kerry, mccaskill and all the other elks who are now critical of Hillary Clinton, fail to disclose that they are all declared obama supporters. .......... talk about TREACHERY.

I will say this to kennedy and gang if obama gets this nomination based on distorted perceived racism by Hillary Clinton, my family, friends and I will vote for any republican nominee even if its George Bush dog BARNEY.

Nice, he can have a money launderer (Reszko) and a murderer (Teddy Kennedy) over to Camelot for tea and crumpets while he laughs at all the support he got whom he'll never repay. Obama is a fraud. Get educated. And Vote for Hillary.

when you call Obama a U.S senator "this kid", it is racism, or at least insult. When you use surrogate to talk about "doing something in the neighborhood", it is insult. Has anybody else campaign on Billary WH scandals? They are still lucky nobody is campaigning on "Restoring MORALITY in the White House".

All the top leaders in the Democratic party like leahy, clayburn, kerry, mccaskill and all the other elks who are now critical of Hillary Clinton, fail to disclose that they are all declared obama supporters.

Funny you should mention Senator Claire McCaskill--now there is a woman I would feel comfortable electing President. She has only been in the US Senate since the last med-term, but she has a long career and was elected on her OWN merits. She was one of two high profile female lawmakers (Gov. Napolitano from AZ) who endorsed Senator Obama last week I think. I've been saying for awhile, if everyone is so hell-bent on electing a woman, how about someone like McCaskill? I would be willing to bet she has more impressive legislation to her credit in just over a year in the US Senate than Mrs. Clinton does during these many years she has apparently squandered her opportunity to "lead".

There is no Albuquerque Gazette. The two papers here in ABQ are the Journal, which is notoriously conservative and the Tribune. I'm not sure that either has endorsed anyone, but I can't see the Journal endorsing Obama. I believe the more prestigioius New Mexican has endorsed Obama. Racism dressed up as religion is so offensive. I pray that we will all know unity and dignity.